Zenel, a 14 story residential building, is in the upmarket residential neighborhood of Erenköy, on Istanbul’s Asian side. It is near the vibrant Bağdat Avenue that runs for about 14 km from east to west almost parallel to the Sea of Marmara coastline.
Unlike old Istanbul, this relatively new neighborhood has a grid pattern formed by the east west axis of Bağdat Avenue.
The ground plane of the site follows the “Bağdat Grid” that is parallel to the avenue while the sky plane of the building is rotated to the south to face towards the Prince Islands, an archipelago, 10 km south of the Marmara Sea coast.
The building from top to bottom is torqued between these two forces, creating the effect of a crystallized molten rock. A rock that is rugged and weathered on the outside, yet so sparkling and polished on the inside.
The building is surrounded by a reflecting pool that acts as a moat, providing a sense of security from the city. Paradoxically, this moat creates a connection with the neighbourhood, as the colourful fish and hydrophonic plants are a strong attraction for the locals. The building entry is accessed via a bridge through the porous facade, which is reminiscent of eroded rock. The entrance wall undulates as water seeps behind the facade, creating a unique transitional space.
Each apartment has a unique aperture to frame the city through the lateral facades facing the neighbouring buildings. The unique lateral facades are equipped with technology that protects the residents from the harmful electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the mobile phone masts scattered throughout the city. The silver-coated glass facades together with the lateral facades create a Faraday cage for protection. Each apartment is heated and cooled by an air-to-water heat-pump system, dramatically reducing the carbon footprint.
2014
2017
Total Construction Area: 3979 m²
Floor Areas: 234-242 m²(Brüt)
Parking: 793 m²
Garden Area: 642 m²
Site Area: 1138 m²
Architects: Aytac Architects
Photographs by: Cemal Emden
Manufacturers: Sto, Daikin, Dempar, Greton, Guardian, Kule, Metamar Mármores e Granitos, Poolart, Rana Kilit, Tyssen-Krupp, Ytong, Zorlu, Çatısan
Lead Architect: Alper Aytac
General Contractor: Aytaç İnsaat A.Ş.
Electrical Engineers: Geta